Tie-tamping machine



D. A. ROBINSON.

TIE TAMPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION ILED DEC. 1 I921.

EETS-SHEET I.

' Patented May 9, 1922.

I N YEN TOR D (iHTfl/V Ii, AoB/Nao/v .3 (RAW l llllllll D. A. ROBINSON.

TIE TAMPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 056.19. I92].

1 ,41 5 1 94, Patented May 9, 1922.

9 SHEETS-SHEET Z.

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TIE TAMPlN-G MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED DEC. I9, 1921. P t t dM 9 19221,4]. 9 SHEETS-SHEET 3. K g Q Q N &

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TIE TAMPING MACHINE- APPLICATION FILED 056.19, 1921.

Z 2. 94 1. 9H 9% Vu as Mm d w m ow D IN v TOR iflorneys D. A. ROBINSON.

TIE TA MPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 0110.19, 1921.

Patented May 9, 1922.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 5- D. A. ROBINSON.

TIE TAMPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 05c. 19. 192i.

D. A. ROBINSON.

TIE TAMPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED use. 19. 1921.

Patented May 9, 1922.

9 SHEEN-SHEET T.

INJON 0 Y Nm m M .N U [MDQ D. A. ROBINSON.

TIE TAMPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 05c. 1 9. 1921.

1,4]. 5, 194:. Patented May 9, 1922.

9 SHEEIS-SHEEI 8.

D/GHTON AZ fiaal/vso/v 5,: RM QWQ D. A. ROBINSON.

TIE TAMPING MACHINE.

APPl .lCATl0N FILED DEC. 19. 1921.

1,415,194, Patented May 9, 1922.

9 SHEEIS-SHEET 9.

. I N VENTOR 'D/ 6/1 70/07. fiobl/vsolv #76211 Q MW STATES DIG'HTON A,ROBINSON, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

TIE-TAMPING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 9, 1922.

Application fl1ed Decembe'r.19, 1921. Serial No. $23,539.

To all whom it may concern-.-

Be it known that I, DIGHTON A. RonrN- SON, a citizen of the UnitedStates, resldent of Minneapolis, in the county. of Hennepm and State ofMinnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in I 1e-Tamping Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This'invention relates particularly to 1mprovements in the tie ta-mpingmachine illustrated and described in my application for Letters Patentfiled February 21st. 1921, Serial No. 446,871.

The object of the present mvention is to improve and simplify theconstruction and arrangement of the various mechanisms illustrated anddescribed in my said former application; to provide improved means forsupporting and adjusting the tampmg tools and the operating guns; toprovide means for adjusting the machine or car frame upon its supportingtrucks thereby raismg or low ering the tamping bars and them supportingmechanisms, so as to accommodate the machine for use upon rails ofdifferent depths, and to provide means for elevating and turning the carand the mechanism carry ng frame so as to permit the same to be readllyremoved from the track.

Other objects will appear from the following detailed description inconnectlon with the accompanying drawings 1n wh ch, Figure 1 is avertical section of a tamplng machine embodying my invention, taken online 1-1 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrow;

Figure 2 is a vertical section on line 2-2 of Figure 1, looking in thedirection of the arrow;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the machine with the tamping tools and theindividual tool supporting carriers omitted;

Figure 4 is a vertical section on a plane extending through one of thepulsators and lengthwise of the machine;

Figure 5 is a detail of one of the air controlling valves of'thepulsator;

Figure 6-is a detail of the valves arranged in the head of thepulsato-r;

Figure 7 is a horizontal section on line 7-7 of Figure 4, looking in thedirection of the arrow; a.

Figure 8 is an elevation of one end of a portion of the machine;

Figure 9 is a detail partly in section, looking from. below and showingtwo' of the tamp-ing bars and their operatin guns, and the means foradjusting the position of the tamping bars and guns;

Figure 10 is a detail section on line 1010 of Figure 9;

Figure 11 is a detail section on line 1111 of Figure 9;

Figure 12 is a. detail section on line 12-12 of Figure 11;

spring controlled means for supporting the machine frame upon thetrucks. Figure 16 is a detail of the rod for adjust- 111%tl16 toolsupporting carriage.

igure 17 is a partial elevation of the base member and the main carriageshowing also the relation of the carriage toone of the track rails.

Figure 18 is a partial section and elevation showing the means forraising the machine to permit it to be turned and removed from thetrack.

Figure 19 is a detail of the valve controlling passage of air toand fromthe raising cylinder. v

Figure 20 is an elevation and partial sectionshowing one of the maincarriages and the means for supporting it upon the transverse basemember, and also showing one of the tool supporting carriages in itslowest position and indicating in dotted lines the upper position ofsaid carriage.

Figure 21 is a transverse section on line 21-21 of Figure 20 in thedirection of the arrow.

T he frame.

The main frame of the machine, as herethe openings 4, 4 and 5.Surrounding each opening I preferably provide an inwardly extendingflange 6 (Figure'2). The flanges ingangle bars 7, 7 and 8, 8. These barsextend across'from one end member to the other, and have their endssuitably connected to the members 2, 2. The end members '2, 2 alsoprovide bearings for the axles 9, 9, which carry, preferably securedrigidly thereto, the small car wheels 10, 10.

I have shown and prefer to use two axles- 9, 9 for each machine, eachaxle being provided with a pair of rigidly secured small car wheels 10,10.

Frame adjustment.

The ends of the members 2 are provided with vertically extending housins 11,. in which are arranged vertically slidlng hearing blocks 12, whichform bearings for the ends of the axles 9, (Figure 15). As here showneach of the blocks 12 is engaged by a spiral spring 13, arranged betweensaid block and a plate 14 at the upper end of" the housing. An adjustingscrew 15, passing through a threaded opening in the top of the housing,engages the plate 14. Said screw is preferably provided with a lock nut16. A bolt 18. passes through holes in the housing below the bearingblock 12, and supports said block against the tension of the spring 13.A plurality of holes 19 provided in the walls of the housing permitadjustment of the bolt 18.

By supporting the axles 9 in this manner I am enabled to raise or lower,to a certain extent, the frame of the machine, and thereby to adjustvertically said frame with respect to the track upon which the wheels ofthe machine may be resting.

I have indicated in the drawings the wheels 10 as resting upon suitablerails 20, said rails being supported by ties 21. The rails 20 may be ofgreater orless depth,and, to allow for differences in the depth of-therails, I mount the axles-9 in the vertically adjustable bearing blocksas hereinbefore described. With this construction and arrangement theends of the tamping bars will, when the machine is ready for use,

stand at the desired level just below the lower edges of the ties(Figures 1 and 4).

Arrangement of base member.

1 preferably provide the frame of the machine with a transverselyextending base member 22 (Figure 4), which is preferably formed of heavysheet metal, such as boiler iron, and is of substantiallysemi-cylindrical This member preferably has its upper edges arrangedbetween and firmly CO1].- nected together by the transversely extend-'-bars 7 and 8 (Figure 4). The'ends of t base' member 22 are suitablysecured to the j vertical inner walls of the members'2, 2, This basemember, with the end members .2, 2 and the angle bars 7, 8, form a, verylight but'rlgid frame which, supported upon the v axle 9, and wheels10,-forms a small car adapted to be moved along the rails of arailroadtrack.

' Motma' Arran ed above the base member 22 and preferab y locatedsubstantially at the cen ter of the car, is asuitable motor 23preferably supported u on the angle bars 8' (Fig ures 2 and 18). hismotor may be of any suitable type, steam, electric or gasoline. Ihave'represented in the drawings a gasoline or internalcombustion-engine arranged to drive a shaft 24, through a suitableclutch 25 (Figure 2), shaft 26, pinion 27, and gear 28 (Figure 1). Ihave also shown this engine provided with a radiator 29 and circulatingpipes or tubes 30. I have also shown the engine'provided with a fan 31,arranged to be driven through a belt 32 from shaft 33,

which in turn is driven through a belt 34 from the crank shaft of theengine.

It will be understood, however, that I do not limit'myself to any ofthese details of construction of the motor, or power plant, and, withoutdeparting from my invention, any other suitable motor may be substitutedfor that shown. herein. I

Palsators.

I also preferably provide at'each side of the motor 23 a double actingair pump 35, of the type generally designated .a' pulsator, each pumpbeing preferably provided with lugs 36 by which it is supported upon theangle-bars 7 (Figure 4). Each pump is I provided with a cylinder 37, adouble acting piston 38, a connecting rod 39 and a crank shaft 40,preferably in line with the shaft 24. Each crank shaft is provided witha clutch member 41, adapted to be engaged by a clutch member 42,arranged on the shaft 24, so that when said clutch members are engagedthe crank shaft 40 is driven and the piston 38 is reciprocated inthefcylinder 37. Compensating valves 37 and 37 b are preferably providedin the upper and lower cylinder heads, respectively, of the cylinder 37'through which air is admitted to the cylinders, while the device is inoperation. When and admit air to the cylinders thereby retaining aconstant pressure for the operation of the air guns. known in the artmay compensating valves.

As the piston moves in one direction the air in the cylinder will beforced out of one end of said cylinder, and air will be drawn into thecylinder at the other side of the piston. As the piston moves in theother direction the action will be reversed.'

The cylinder 37 is preferably provided at its upper end, and as a partof its upper head, with the cylindrical chamber'43, and at its lowerend, and as a part of its lower head 52, with a reduced portion 44. Thepiston is provided with the upper piston stem 45, and with the lowerstem 46 to which the connecting rod 39 is connected. I prefer to formthe piston 38, and the stems 45 and 46 hollow as shown, the upper end ofthe stem 45, however, being closed by the wall 47, whereby said stemforms, with the chambe substituted for the ber 43', a small aircompressor, by means of which air admitted, through a suitable inwardlyopening valve 48, may be compressed and forced out of the chamberthrough a valve49, and a pipe 50 into a reservoir 51.

The lower cylinder head 52 is preferably formed integrally with thereduced portion 44, and with the upper half 53 of the pulsator crankcase, the lower half 54 of said crank case being formed separately andsecured to the upper half by suitable means.

The cylinder 37 is provided with the lower ports 55 (preferably four innumber) and with the upper ports 56, also four in number. A port 55, anda corresponding port 56 both communicate with a valve chamber 57 inwhich is placed a rotatable valve 58. When this valve is in the positionshown at the left in Figure 4, the ports 55 and 56 are in opencommunication with the lengths of hose 59 and 60 leading to the air gunshereinafter described. When the valve 58 is in the position shown inFigure 5 the air passes freely from one end of the cylinder to the otheras the piston is reciprocated.

Any valve 58 may be adjusted to any position between that shown inFigure 5 to that shown at the right in Figure 4, and in order tothrottle the air passage, between a lower port 55 and the correspondingupper port 56, I provide on the cylinder wall a flange 58 in line withthe axis of the valve 58, and a corresponding flange 58" on the hub ofthe valve 58. When the-valve 58 is in the position shown in Figure 5 thepassage between the ports 55 and 56 is open to its\ greatest extent.When the valve is in the position shown at the right in Figure 4, thispassage is' reduced to its smallest area. By rotating the valve thepassage may be open to any degree between these two extremes. Thisadjustment of the passage between the ports provided so that when anytamping tool 1s Other suitable devices well not in use the air pressurefor operating the other tools or any tool may be regulated.

Means for Zabficating air gem.

In order to' provide efficient lubrication of the air guns hereinafterdescribed, I prefer tolead the tube or hose 69 connected to the-lowerend of the cylinder 37 to the upper end of the air gun cylinder 95,hereinafter described, so that by providing the crank case 54 with thelubricating material, the same will work around the piston stem 46 intothe lower part of the cylinder 37, and, acting on the principle of thesplash system of lubrication, more or less ofthe lubricating materialwill be forced by the piston 38 through the tube or hose 60 into theupper end of the air gun cylinder 95. As said cylinder stands in aninclined position said lubricating material will work downward bygravity and will effectively lubricate said air gun.

M a ia carriages.

side of the car frame, which, in the construction shown, brings one ofthe carriages above each of the car sup-porting wheels 10. The tampingtools, with their operating guns are located near the sides of thecarriages, so that one tamping tool is arranged to tamp beneath the edgeof the tie from the inside of the railroad rail to the desired distancetowards the center of the space between the rails, while the othertamping tool is arranged to operate from the outside ledge of the railto the end-of the tie. With this arrangement of four tamping tools oneach side of the base member, the work of tamping under both edges of atie, the tools being in the positions indicated in Figure 1, is, quicklyaccomplished.

Tool supporting carriages.

pendently adjustable upon said supporting carriage. For convenience Idesignate these carriages as the main carriage and the tool supportingcarriage respectively.

Construction of main carriages.

63. Each side bar is provided at its upper end with a bearing 64, forthe shaft of a grooved carrying wheel 65. -It is provided at its lowerend with a recess in which is journaled a bearing "wheel 66. The lowerend of the side-bar isin the form of a lug 67, which extends between thebase member 22, and a transverse supporting rod 68. This rod preferablyextends the full width of the machine, and is suitably supported in theend members 2, 2 of the frame. A transverse rack and track-bar 69 issecured to the angle bar 8, and the carriage is supported thereon by theengagement of the grooved wheel 65 with said track bar. The lower end ofthe main carriage extends below the base member 22 and the wheels 66 Themain carriage is provided with a pinion 71, engaging the rack on the bar69,

this pinion being mounted upon a short shaft 70, to which is connectedpreferably by a universal joint, a telescoping operating rod 72extending to the end of the machine, where it is provided with asuitably, sup-- ported hand wheel 73. As shown in Figure 17 the bars 69need extend only a part of the distance across the machine, as it isnecessary to adjust each carriage back and forth a sufficient distanceto permit the tamping of the ties the desired distance on both sides ofthe rails.

It will be seen that each of the main carriages is independentlyadjustable transversely of the machine and is, therefore, adapted tomove thetamping tools back and forth, so that by means of the pair oftools carried by each carriage, each tie may be tamped from the centerof the track to the end of the tie, although a space of from sixteeninches to two, feet at the center of the track is usually not tamped.

Gonetructz'oa of tool supporting carriage.

and bars or castings 80, pivoted to the brackets 79 at 81 (Figures 13and 14) extend downward along each side of the upright web of eachT-bar, and at their lower ends are provided with flanges 82 throughwhich extend bolts 83, held in position by nuts 84.'

These bolts extend through the horizontal flanges of each T-bar and areprovided, below said bar, with the coiled or helical springs 85. Thecastings 80 are provided near their lower ends with bearings for ansponding distance bar 77 A crank 90 is secured to theshaft 86 and a rod91 connected to said crank permits the rotation of the shaft 86, andconsequently the raising or lowering of thelower end of the supportingcarriage, and the two tamping tools carried thereby (Figures 13 and 20),thereby permitting an adjustment of the lower end of the tamping tool toposition the tool for the tamping of ties of different Widths.

The rod 91 preferably passes through a .block 92 (Figure 16) securedupon the upper rod of the tool supporting carriage. It ispreferablyprovided with a series of notches 93 adapted to be engaged by a springcon-- trolled pin 94, which will hold said rod in any position to whichit is moved for the purpose of adjusting the tool supporting carriage ina vertical plane, to raise or lower the pair of tamping tools carried bysaid carriages, as hereinbefore described.

Tampz'ng tool The tamping toolgun or hammer consists preferably of acylinder 95, one head of said cylinder being formed with a tubularextension 96, constituting a tool holder, arranged to receive and hold areciprocating tamping tool 97. The end of the tool is suitably shaped toadapt it for tamping the ballast or road bed under the ties. The shankof the tool is preferably provided with a transverse hole, and a collar99 (Figures 9 and 10) is secured to said tool by a suitable pin 99,which passes through a hole in the collar, and through the hole in theshank of the tool. The collar 98 is provided with an outwardly extendinglug 100. The tubular extension 96 of the cylinder is provided with aslot 101, adapted to receive said lug 100. The extension 96 is providedwith an opening into which the end of the tool shank fits (Figure 9),and with an opening of larger diameter adapted to receive the collar 98,and the springs 102 and 103, which are placed in said opening, on eitherside of the collar 98, the heavier and stiffer spring, 103, being placedbetween the collar 98 and the end of the extension and being held inposition by acap nut 104. The cylinder 95 and its extension 96, and thetool carried; thereby, are secured to the webs of the T-bar 74,

by means of lugs 105 and 106. This connection between the cylinder andthe T-bar which forms the support forthe cylinder or gun, by which thetamping tool is operated, permits each cylinder and its extension to beindependently adjusted longitudinally of the tool supporting carriage.

. Arranged within the cylinder 95 is a piston 107-having a short hammerrod 108 connected thereto. into the opening in the extension 96. Thecylinder 95 is provided with lugs 109 and 110 to which the tubes 59'and60, extending from the pulsator, are connected. When the reciprocatingpiston of the pulsator is in operation and the valve 58 is in theposition shown in Figure 4:, air is alternately forced into andexhausted from the pipes 59 and 60. Forcing air into the pipe 59retracts the PETS? ton 107, moving it into the position shown in Figure9, and thereby permitting the spring 103 to withdraw the tamping tool,to as great an extent as possible. Upon the reverse stroke of thepulsator the air is forced into the cylinder 95 on the opposite side ofthe piston, and said piston is forced to move in the opposite direction.

When the piston reaches the opposite limit of its stroke, the air whichwill now enter the cylinder 95 between the piston 107 and the end of thecylinder, will force the iston in the opposite direction. As the cyinder of the pulsator is connected to the pipes 59 and 60, leading fromthe pulsator, the, hammer piston 10? reciprocates in the cylinder, andat each 'movement of the piston in the direction of the 'tamping toolcauses the end of the piston rod hammer 108 to strike a sharp blow onthe end of the shank of the tanrping tool. This blow will force the toolagainst the ballast or road bed belowthe tie (Figure 1). As the tool isdriven downward by theblow of the piston hammer the spring 103 iscompressed and this spring beingmore powerful than the spring 102 willby its engagement with the collar 98 immediately raise the tool after ithas been moved downward by the blow of the hammer.

I Gun adjusting device.

Arranged beneath and secured to each T-b-ar 7 1, is a cylinder 111preferably secured rigidly to the under side of said T-bar. I have hereshown said parts connected by means of rivets 112 (Figure 1). Eachcylinder 111 is provided with a piston 113 (Figure 9) which is connectedby a rod 114 to the head of the cylinder 95. It will thus be seen thatby moving the piston 113, within the cylinder 111, the cylinder or toolgun 95, and the tool carried thereby may be adjusted to anydesired'position on the T-bar 74 of the tool supporting carriage.

I prefer to operate the piston 113, to secure the roper adjustment ofthe tool gun dhr 95, by means of compressed air from the tank orreservoir 51.

I have shown, in Figure 9, pi es 115 and 116, leadingto the opposite en5 of a pair The end of this rod extends of cylinders 111, carried by thegun supportmg carriage. afour-way valve 119 (Figure 12) and connect withthe pipes 115 and 116. A supply pipe 120 leads from the reservoir 51,and a pipe 121 leads to the'exhaust. A valve stem 122 and'wheel 123, areprovided for operating the four-way valve 119. By means of this beadmitted to either end of the cylinders 111, and the piston 113, ineither cylinder 111, may be moved to any desired position in saidcylinder, and thereby any desired adjustment of the tool gun 95, on thesupporting carriage, may be obtained.

I I prefer to provide, in the pipes 115 and 116, in proximity to each ofthe cylinders 111, a suitable shut-off valve 124, and I Pipes 117 and118'lead from valve air from the reservoir 51 may may be rigidly held inany position to which it has been adapted.

Valve operating means.

to the shaft 129 by universal joint 131. The

opposite ends of the rods 130 are mounted on the transverse rod 63 ofthe tool supporting carriage, and each of saidrods is provided with anoperating hand wheel 132 (Figure 3). By this means either of the valves58 may be turned. so as to occupy either of the positions shown inFigure 1, or the position shown in Figure 5, thereby permitting the air,under the opening of the ulsator, to reciprocate the hammer piston ofthe tool gun, or to pass from one end of the cylinder to the other,through the bypass provided by the adjustment of said valve, as shown inFigure 5.

- Um raising and turning meams.

railroad track, so as to. clear said track. For this purpose I haveprovided at the centerof the car a cylinder 133 (Figures 2 and 18)within which is arranged a iston 134, having a piston rod 135, carryinga broad flat head 136 at its lower end. A spring 139 arranged in thecylinder, below the plston, normally holds the piston at the upper endof the cylinder, as shown in Figure 2,'and

holds the head 136'in the elevated position shown by full lines in saidfigure. When it is desired to remove the car from the track, loose ties,or short pieces of timber 140, are placed crosswise of the road ties,and the car is moved along until the head 136 comes over said cross tiesor pieces of timber. Through a pipe 141, having a controlling valve 142,which extends from the compressed air reservoir 51 to the cylinder 133,air is admitted to the upper end of said cylinder, under sufficientpressure to force the piston downward into contact with the timbers 140,and then to force the cylinder upward carrying with it the car and themechanism carried thereby, until the car wheels 10 are clear of thetrack rails. The car may then be turned around at right angles to thetrack, the piston serving as a pivot, and by placing transverse railsbelow the wheels 10 the car may be run across the track and ontosuitable rails located at the side thereof, thus leaving the track clearfor the passage of trains. When the car has been brought above the crossrails the valve 142 (Figure 19) may be turned so as to permit the air toescape from the cylinder 133, thereby causing the piston 134 to beraised to its normal position by the spring 139, and the wheels 10 todrop onto the cross rails.

The car may be pushed along the railroad track by hand, or I may provideone of the axles .9' with a sprocket wheel 143 (Figure 1), connected bya chain 144 to a sprocket 145, arranged upon a short shaft 146 adaptedto be connected by clutch members 147 and 148, to the crank shaft 40 ofone of the pulsators. By driving the axle, through the means de scribed,the car may be moved along the rails of the railroad track to the pointwhere the device is to be used.

AwZe brake.

I may also provide one of the axles with a brake drum 149 (Figure 8),around which extends a brake. strap 150, one end of which is secured tothe frame of the machine and the other end connected to a brakeoperating lever 151. This lever is preferably arranged in position to beusedby an operator standing on a platform 152. An extra brake lever 154may be provided connected to the brake band 150 in position to beoperated by a workman or operator standing on the ground.

-152 (Figure 18) supported upon suitable hinges, so that the same may befolded up out of the way when not in use, or turned down into ahorizontal position so that an o erator can stand thereon when desired.uitable chains 153 are connected to the outer edges of these platforms,soas to support the same when turned into a horizontal position.

0mstop.

Inorder to stop the car in the right relation to a tie, to permit thetools to work under both edges thereof,I prefer to provide a stop lever155 arranged to be moved by a handle 156 and which may be turned fromthe position shown in dotted lines in Figure 8 to the position shown byfull lines in the same figure. When this lever is turned into theposition shown in full lines in Figure 8, and the car is moved so as tobring the lever into contact with the side of the tie, as shown inFigure 8, the machine will be centered over a tie, as illustrated inFigure 1, and will be in position for tamping under both edges of thetie.

Canopy.

General construction.

I prefer to construct the frame of the machine and its supporting wheelsin the form of a light pressed steel car carried on standard lightpressed steel wheels mounted on hollow drawn steel axles by which all ofthe parts of the mechanism are supported.

arts of the mechanism may be constructed of aluminum in which case theweight of the full sized device will usually be approximately 3000pounds. If the motor base and the pulsator are formed of iron the weightwill be about 3500 pounds. 3

'As stated, I may use an-ordinary gaso line motor, or engine, rating 30to 40 H. P.,

which is suflicien't for all purposes as the pulsator operation is oflight duty. Moreover, the tamping guns. will ordinarily be cut out atfrequent intervals, and the compressor feature will require only 5 percent of the power.

Operation.

of each rail, the center of the-road-bed being preferably left untamped.

While the tamping tools may be operated at any position of the toolsupporting carriage, I contemplate, in ordinary use, operating thetamping tools in only two positions. ,VVith the tool supporting carriageraised to its highest position, that is, the position nearest thevertical, the ballast will be tamped nearly vertically along the edge ofthe tie. The position of this carriage, in this operation, will beSubstantially that indicatedby. the dotted lines in Figure 20. The toolsupporting carriage may in full lines in Figure 20, and the operation ofthe tamping tool then will approximate a horizontal, and the materialwill be tucked under the bottom of the tie, the center in Figure l ofthe drawings. When the operation is completed the ballast under the tiewill be tamped closely together as indicated at the right in Figure 1.

As the tamping tool is swung up and down, in a vertical plane, theposition of the point of the tool remains unchanged in the two extremepositions of the tool. This is illustrated by the full and dotted linesin Figure 2-0. The tool supporting carriage turns on a centerpractically coincident with the point of the tool, and which would beexactly coincident except for the slight offset at the point of thetool.

It will thus be seen that in moving the tool from one extreme positionto the otherv there is no change in its working point. This isconsidered to be an important feature in the construction and operationof the machine. I

In maintaining a road-bed it is necessary to raise the low points of thetrack. This will leave open spaces under the ties, as indicated at theleft in Figure 1. openings must be filled by the operation of thetamping machine and the material under the ties must be tamped veryclosely together.

One operator will be required to handle each swinging carriage, to eachmachine. The tool carrying carriages will be raised and lowered by thehand of the operator. Said carriages will in operation be preferablycounterbalanced, so as to make it easy for the operator to handle thesame. The main carriage may be moved towards the center of the machine,and track, or away from the center by the rack and pinion, and theoperatingrod exthen bedropped to its lowest position, indicated asindicated at These or four operators tending to theouter end of theswinging carriage.

The machinemay be moved onto a side' track to permit the passage oftrains, or it may be elevated by arranged air cylinder and piston, andturned around at right angles to the track, and then dropped onto somelight rails by means of which it may be run across and oif the track.

The details of construction may be varied in many particularswithoutdeparting from my invention.

' I claim as my invention:

1. In a machine of the class described, the combination, with a suitablewheel-supported frame, and a transversely extending base member havingits ends secured to said frame, riage mounted upon said base member, atool supporting carriage arranged in an inclined position, and suspendedupon said main carriage, and capable of being adjusted in a verticalplane, and a tamping-tool and tool gun carried by said supportingcarriage.

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination, with a wheelsupported 'frame, a motor, and a pulsator mounted thereon, of atransversely movable main carriage, a tool supporting carriage, mountedon said main carriage, and arranged to swing in a vertical plane, atamping tool carried by said carriage, by said pulsator, and connectedwith said tamping tool for operating the same.

3. In a machine of the class described, the combination, with a wheelsupported frame, a motor, and a pulsator mounted thereon, of a pair oftransversely movable main carriages, supported on said frame and eacharranged to move back and forth towards the center of the frame, fromone side thereof, a tool supporting carriage carried by each maincarriage, and arranged to swing in a vertical plane, a tamping toolcarried by said carriage, and an air gun, operated by said pulsator, andconnected with said tamping tool for operating the same. Y

4:. In a machine of the class described, the combination, with a wheelsupported frame,

means of the centrally of a transversely movable main car-v and an airgun, operated a motor, and a pulsator mounted thereon, of

mounted on said main I riages, supported on said frame, and eacharranged to move back and forth towards the center of the frame, fromone side thereof, a tool supporting carriage carried by each maincarriage, and arranged to swing in a vertical plane, turning about acenter located at the working point of the tool, a tamping tool carriedby said carriage, and an air gun operated by said pulsator, andconnected with said tamping tool for operating the same.

6. In a machine of the class described, the

combination, with a supporting frame,

wheels supporting said frame, and a transversely extending base member,concave in cross section, having its ends secured to the side walls ofsaid frame, and arranged with its concave side uppermost, of a trackrail arranged parallel with the upper portion of said base member, atransversely movable carriage supported upon said track rail, and havinga bearing wheel engaging the convex surface of said base member, meansfor reciprocating said carriage upon said track rail, a tamping toolsupported by said carriage, and means for operating said tool.

7. In a machine of the class described, the combination, with a suitableframe, wheels supporting said frame, and a transversely extending basemember, concave in cross section, havlng its ends secured to the sidewalls of said frame, and arranged with its concave side uppermost, of atrack rail arranged parallel with the upper portion of said base member,a pair of transversely movable carriages supported upon said track rail,and having bearing wheels engaging the convex surface of said basemember, means for independently reciprocating each carriage upon saidtrack rail, towards the center of said frame, from one side thereof,tamping tools carried by said carriages, and means for operatingsaid'tools.

8. In a machine of the class described, the combination, with asupportin frame, wheels supporting said frame, an a trans verselyextending base member, concave in cross section, having its ends securedto the side walls of said frame, and arranged with its concave sideuppermost, of track rails arranged parallel with the upper portions ofsaid base member and at each side thereof, a pair of transverselymovable carriages supported upon each track rail, and having bearingwheels engaging the convex surface of sald base member, means forindependently reciprocating each carriage upon its supporting track railtowards the center of said frame, from one side thereof, tamping toolscarried by each carriage, and means for operating said tools. 7

9. In a machine of the classdescribed, the combination, with a suitableframe, wheels supporting said frame, and a transversely extending basemember having its ends secured to the side walls of said frame, of atrack rail arran ed parallel with the upper portion of said ase member,a transversely movable carriage mounted upon said track rail, and havingbearing wheels engaging the under surface of said base member, means forreciprocating said carriage upon said track rails towards the center ofsaid frame, from one side thereof, tamping tools carried by saidcarriage, and means for operating said tools.

10. In a machine of the class described, the combination, with asuitable wheel supported frame, of a transversely extending track railsupported upon said frame, a pair of transversely movable mounted, uponsaid track rail, means for reciprocating each carriage independently ofthe other upon said track rail a limited distance towards the center ofsaid frame, from one side thereof, tamping tools carried by eacpcarriage, and means for operating said too s.

11. In a machine of the class described, the combination, with asuitable wheel supcarriages ported frame, of a transversely extending.

track rail supported upon said frame, a transversely movable carriagemounted upon said track rail, means for reciprocating said carriage uponsaid track rail, a tool supporting carriage mounted on said maincarriage and arranged to swing in a vertical plane, turning about acenter located at the working point of the tool, a tamping tool carriedby said carriage, an air gun connected with said tamping tool foroperating the same, and means for operating said air gun.

12. In a machine of the class described, the combination, with asuitable wheel sup ported frame, of a transversely extending track railsupported upon said frame, a transversely movable main carriage mounted'uponsaid track rail, a tool supporting carriage supported on said maincarriage and arrangedto swing in a vertical plane, turning about acenterlocated at the working point of the tool, a tamping tool carriedby said tool supporting carriage, an air gun connected with said tampingtool for operating the same, means for operating said air gun, and meansfor adjusting said air gun lengthwise on said tool supporting car riage.

13. In a machine of the class described, the combination, with asuitable wheel supported frame, of, a transversely extending track railsupported upon said frame, a transversely movable main carriage mountedupon said track rail, a tool supporting carriage supported on said maincarriage and arranged to swing in a vertical plane, turning about acenter located at the working point of the tool, a tamping tool carriedby said .tool supporting carriage, an air gun connected with saidtamping tool the carriages upon same, means for operating said air gun,and air controlled means for adjusting said air'gun lengthwise on saldtool supportmg carria 14. In a machine 0 the combination, with asuitable wheel supported frame, and a pair of transversely extendingtrack rails mounted thereon, of a pair of main carriages means foradjusting said carriages towards and from the center of the frame, atool supporting carriage, suspended from each main carriage, and movablein a vertical plane, turning about a center located at the working pointof the tool, a tamping tool and tool operating gun, mounted on said foroperating the .carriage, and means for operating said gun.

15. In a machine of the class described, the combination, with a frame,and a pair of transversely ported by" said frame, of a main carriagesupported upon each rail, said carriages being inclinedtowards, eachother, and adjustable to and from the center of the frame, a toolsupporting carriage suspended from each main carriage and arranged toswing in a vertical plane, turning about acenter located at the workingpoint of the tool, a tamping tool mounted on each carriage with theworking ends of thetools on the opposite carriages arranged to-operateat the opposite sides of the same tie.

' 16. In a machine of the class described, the combination, with a frameand a pair of transversely extending track rails supported by saidframe, a pair of main carriages supported on each rail, the carriagesupon one rail being oppositely inclined to the other rail, means foradjifsting each carriage upon its supporting rail towards and from thecenter of the frame, a tool carrying carriage supported from each maincarriage and ar-' ranged to swing in a vertical plane, turningiabout acenter located at the working point of the tool, a pair of tampin toolsspaced apart and mounted on eac tool carrying carriage, and arranged tooperate simlultaneously on opposite sldes of a road ral 17. In a machineof the class described, the combination, with the frame and itssupporting wheels, of a pulsator mounted on said frame and having acylinder, with an operating piston'therein, said cylinder beingprovided, on each side of said piston, with a plurality of ports, tubesleading from each pair of ports to an air-gun, means arranged to connectany pair of ports, disconnecting the same from the tubes leading to theco-operating air-gun, and a tamping tool connected witheach air-gun.

18. In a machine of the class described,

' the combination, with the pulsator cylinder and piston, said cylinderbeing provided the class described,

on each track rail,

extending track rails supthereby,

ported thereon,

with a plurality of ports at each side of said piston, of a tamping toolairgun connected with each pair of ports leading from said cylinder,means nection between any pair of said ports, and

for forming at will a con-' simultaneously cutting off the connect-lon'to the corresponding air gun.

19. In a machine of the class described, the combination, with thepulsator cylinder and piston, said cylinder being provided with aplurality of ports at each side of said piston, of a tamping tool airgun connected with each pair of ports leading from said cylinder, meansfor forming at will a regulated connection between any pair of saidports, and simultaneously cutting off the connection to thecorresponding air gun.

20. Ina machine of the class described, the combination, with a suitableframe, 'of a pulsator mounted thereon, tamping tools connected with saidpulsator to be operated thereby, 'a compressed air reservoir, and meansconnecting the pulsator cylinder with said reservoir, whereby saidpulsator, while operating said tamping tool, will maintain apredetermined air pressure in said reservoir.

21. In a machine of the class described, the combination, with asuitable frame, of a pulsator mounted thereon, tamping tools connectedwith said pulsator to be operated a compressed air reservoir, meansconnecting the pulsator cylinder with said reservoir, whereby saidpulsator while operating said tamping tool, will maintain apredetermined air pressure in said reservoir, and means connected withsaid reservoir and operated by pressure of the air therein for adjustingthe position of said tamping tools.

22. In a machine of the class described,

the combination, with a truck frame, and wheels supporting the same, oftie tamping tools, supported upon said frame, and means for verticallyadjusting said truck frame upon said wheels whereby all of the tampingtools are simultaneously raised or lowered, to adapt said machine fortamping ties carrying rails of different depths.

' 23. In a machine of the class described, the combination, with theinclined vertically swinging carriage and tamping tool supof yieldingmeans carrying the lower end of said carriage and permitting a downwardyielding movement of said carriage and its tamping tool when, inoperation, said tool strikes the corner of a tie being tamped.

24. In a machine of the class described,

permitting a downward yielding movement of the lower end of the tampingtool, when in operation said tool strikes the corner of a tie beingtamped.

25. In a machine of the class described, the combination, withatransversely adjustable main carriage, of a tamping tool supportingcarriage suspended from said main carriage, a tamping tool mounted uponsaid supporting carriage, and a rotatable eccentric for adjusting thelower end of said tamping tool in a vertical plane to position said toolfor tamping ties of different widths.

26. In a machine of the class described, the combination, with atransversely adjustable main carriage, of a tamping tool sup-. portingcarriage arranged in an inclined position, suspending bars pivotallysecured to said main carriage and an adjustable connection between saidsuspending bars and said tool supporting carriage, whereby the lower endof the tool supporting carriage and the tamping tool may be adjusted ina vertical plane to position the tamping tool for tamping ties ofdifferent widths.

27. In a machine of the class described, the combination, with a toolsupporting carriage, of a pair of tamping tools carried thereby,pneumatically actuated tool guns for operating said tamping tools, atool gun adjusting cylinder for each air gun, and means forindependently controlling the passage of air to each adjusting cylinder,whereby said air guns may be simultaneously or independently adjustedand locked in any position.

28. The combination, with the inclined carriage, and the air gun,.andtamping tool supported thereon, also in an inclined position, of thepulsator provided with an upright cylinder having a reciprocating pistonarranged therein, tubes connecting said cylinder with said air gun, thetube from the port of the pulsator below the piston being connected tothe upper part of the air gun, and the tube from the port of thepulsator above the piston being connected to the lower part of the airgun, for the purpose set forth.

29. The combination, with a car-wheel supported frame, and oppositelyarranged tamping tools, carried thereby, and arranged to operatesimultaneously on opposite sides of the same tie, of a stop devicearranged upon said frame and between the oppositely arranged tampingtools and constructed to be swung downward into position to engage theside .of the tie to be tamped, thereby locating said frame with thetools in tamping position. I

30. The combination, with a car-wheel supported frame, and a tampingtool carried thereby and arranged to tamp material at the side of a tie,of a stop device arranged upon said frame and constructed to be swungdownward into engagement with the side of the tie to be tamped, therebylocating said frame with the tool in tamping f position.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 14th da ofDecember, 1921. DIGHT N A. ROBINSON.

